Germany's covetous attitude toward the colonial possessions of other
nations led to several serious international disagreements in the years
before the Great War. More than once it almost brought her into conflict
with the government of the United States. An agreement had been made for
the joint control of the Samoan Islands by Great Britain, Germany, and
the United States. Germany's attempt to enlarge her interests in the
islands led to a quarrel with American officers. An American flag was
seized by armed Germans, war vessels were sent to Samoa, and a naval
battle seemed about to take place. A hurricane destroyed the vessels,
however, before any fighting had occurred, and the three countries drew
up a treaty which settled that particular difficulty (1899).

Germany also resented our acquisition of the Philippines and other
Spanish colonies. At the outbreak of our war with Spain in 1898, when
Admiral Dewey steamed into Manila Bay, he found there a German fleet
that was half disposed to interfere with his operations. But when Dewey
showed a willingness to fight, the Germans withdrew.

Several years later Germany picked a quarrel with Venezuela and, in
defiance of the Monroe Doctrine, bombarded a fort on her coast. Acting
in conjunction with England and Italy, German warships blockaded the
ports of Venezuela to force the payment of financial claims. President
Roosevelt's insistence that Germany drop her further plans of
aggression, and his promptness in concentrating the American fleet in
the West Indies, resulted in Germany's accepting a peaceful solution of
the dispute.

In 1911 Germany tried to force France out of Morocco. Since 1904 France
had by common consent taken general charge of affairs in that country.
Later Germany made objections to this arrangement. Finally, in 1911,